The Hevesi Question

[sdelmonte]

This is a rare political post, but I need some advice...

If you followed NY politics, you know that state comptroller Alan Hevesi was found to have violated state ethics rules by appropriating a limo for his wife, claiming that it was necessary for her security, and passing the cost onto the taxpayers. He's up for reelection this week, as this was revealed too late for him to not be on the ballot.

I don't know what to do. His offense may or may not be criminal, but as he is in charge of keeping an eye on the state's money, his authority has been compromised. But the alternative is an inexperienced upstate Republican with political veiws I can't accept. I don't want to see him get the job.

So do I vote for a man who did a good job till now as first NYC comptroller and then state comptroller; vote for the other guy simply because Hevesi has forfeit the right to the job, or not vote for either? It's worth noting that I could vote for Hevesi on the assumption that he will resign and that the next governor, almost sure to be Democrat Eliot Spitzer, will appoint someone i can trust.

My inclination is to abstain for the first time in my life. I hat this choice. I like Hevesi. But he's violated the public trust. And the other guy is not appetizing at all.

What do you think?

Comments

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I don't know about a Libertarian comptroller being absurd; I once voted on that line for city comptroller, because I didn't like the other choices. I figured that anyone whose basic philosophy was to keep the government from spending money would be meticulous about checking every single expendenture. (Also, they would have no chance.)

Another think you might consider doing is calling Hevesi's office and telling the people there exactly how you feel. Maybe that would convince Hevesi to make contrition tomorrow.